Growing up, you never really know your mother, what she was like as a child, and then to share life when both of you are adults.

My memories are only as a child and young teen. But those are some wonderful memories! Pictures of me as a child with my mom trigger those memories.

I have some early photos of my mother as a child, then in her "tween" years, and finally her teen years with her favorite cousins. As an only child, I do believe she considered these first cousins as her siblings, and love was shared by them all.

Mom began dating my father when she was still in high school, 1945-1946. Dad came home from serving in WWII and they soon fell in love. I even found mention of them dating in the old high school newspapers. That was a hoot!

Mom graduated in 1946 from Swanton High School and went to work at the local newspaper, the Swanton Enterprise. She didn't work there very long, as she and my father were married 2 Aug 1947.

After marriage, they moved to Chicago, Illinois, where Dad was going to go to radio school. I never truly understood what that entailed, but Mom was so home sick, they moved back so Swanton renting a duplex on Lincoln Avenue.

In 1949, yours truly popped into the world and our little family remained at the Lincoln address until about 1954 when we moved to the home previously owned by my Grandma and Grandpa Beard. They had sold their business and were moving to Florida, so we moved out of the cramped apartment to a two-bedroom home with a huge back yard.

I remember coming home from school, the house would be immaculate, and she would be sitting on the sofa, reading voraciously. I don't know how many books she read per week, but it had to be a considerable number. She shared her love of reading by teaching me to read at a very early age - early enough that I could read before entering kindergarten.

Mom was an avid golfer and enjoyed spending the day at the local golf course. She was very good, and did win a few trophies for her accomplishments. She also loved her Detroit Tigers and would watch every game that was on television, or she and Dad would listen on the radio.

Another thing I really remember about Mom was the late evenings she and Dad had. They'd throw out a topic and discuss it from one end to the other. It could be politics (they were of opposite political parties) or it could be about the latest and greatest books they had read. It was never an argument, just a discussion.

Mom was quite an artist too. I have a drawing she did of her left hand. She was right-handed, so it was natural to do the left hand. She also made me paper dolls when I was a child. She'd draw the doll, then draw all the clothing for the doll. It was special since I could color the clothing any color I wanted. I sure wish I had some of those dolls now.

I look back now and think of how hard it was for her. She never drove a car and was truly a stay-at-home wife and mother. Her life revolved around her family as was typical in the 1950s.

Then, life changed for her.

Mom was in her late 20s when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The word was like a death sentence in the late 1950s. I do remember Mom having surgery and coming home. I remember her crying at night, knowing the cancer had spread to her bones and lungs and she would die, leaving a husband and child. I cannot imagine her sadness. She tried so hard to make a normal family life that didn't reflect her illness. And that she did.

On 2 August 1962, Mom was in the hospital, but insisted that Dad bring her home so she could spend her 15th wedding anniversary with Dad and her family. I remember Dad saying he shouldn't have brought her home as her lips and fingers were turning blue due to lack of oxygen, but she did come home for a few hours before returning to St. Vincent's Hospital.

Two months later, 2 October 1962, Mom died at the age of 34.

How I wish she could have shared my high school graduation, my marriage and becoming a mother-in-law to such a great guy, becoming a grandmother to a wonderful girl, and lastly, a great-grandmother.

But, it wasn't to be.

Although she had a short life, it was one filled with so much love. Love from her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins - even the in-laws, nieces and nephews. And especially her husband and daughter. Isn't that the kind of life we all strive for?

I can now look back and see how very blessed I've been having two wonderful mothers. One of my childhood, and one of my teen and adult years.

Joanne (Beard) Sloan Graduation picture taken 1945 at the beginning of her senior year.